Chapter 208:
Honest Conversations
Megan’s POV
The dying sun oozed in through the blinds from the late afternoon, spreading long shadows across the room of Megan’s studio. Seated at the desk, papers were sprawled before her, haphazard and littered, an allegory of the tangled dance her thoughts had taken. The room was quiet save for the occasional rustle of pages as she reviewed her work. There was a soft knock on the door; the silence was shattered.
“Megan?” came Chris’s cautious but warm voice.
“Come in,” Megan replied, lifting her face from the excited fixity of her desk, where it had been infused with a mixed sense of anticipation and dread.
Chris came into the room: a great relief to Megan, for several minutes before, she had been surrounded by her own marvelous thoughts-had been left alone, by contrast. His eyes held a mixture of concern and curiosity when he approached her desk.
“Hey,” greeted Chris, offering a barely there smile of encouragement. “How’s it going?”
Megan sighed, pushing her papers aside. “It’s been a long day. Been going through everything, trying to piece this all together.”
Chris took the chair across Megan from her. “I can imagine. This project is huge. Want to talk about it?”
Megan nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what we’re saying with this book. There’s so much more underneath this surface that’s not coming across right.”
Chris leaned forward, intently interested. “Such as?
“It’s hard to put into words,” Megan spoke slowly again, “I want to catch hold of those raw, honest emotions that the processes of confronting the past and healing will bring out. But at times, it feels like I’m not quite getting it.”
Chris nodded sympathetically. “Definitely tough. Sometimes, finding the right words feels like catching smoke with your bare hands.”
Megan laughed softly. “Exactly. And then there’s the pressure of getting it to resonate with the readers. I want them to feel like they are part of the journey, not just observing.”
Chris’s eyes were empathetic. “You are doing a really great job, Megan. But I get that desire to make sure it’s perfect. It’s a tough balancing act.”
Megan stared down at her hands, toying with a pen. “I’ve found myself thinking a lot about how my experiences and insecurities play into this whole thing. How hard it really is to be objective, to divorce yourself from the work and look at it in a vacuum.”.
Chris cocked his head. “It sounds as if you’re dealing with a lot of personal stuff in here. Sometimes, that’s just part of the process-being able to acknowledge and deal with your feelings while trying to help people share them with others.
Megan raised her eyes to his, and he saw a strange mix of vulnerability and determination in their depths. “I want to be honest with my readers, but at the same time, sometimes I think I’m too open. What isn’t this honesty making me too exposed?”
Chris smiled gently. “It’s that raw quality your writing has that sparks. It’s fine to be exposed. You know, it means you’re feeling this material at a high degree; readers respect that kind of honesty.
Megan nodded, listening to his soothing words. “I know you’re right; it’s just finding a balance that is hard.”
Chris leaned back in his chair, thinking for a moment from her past words. “Have you considered talking about these fears with someone who has gone through the same experience?”
Megan’s face wrinkled. “I have, but I am unsure where to begin.”
An idea struck Chris’s brain, lighting up his eyes. “Why don’t you turn to someone who perhaps has had the experience of working in similar themes? Maybe they can provide some insight, some strategies for handling this.”
A light went on in Megan’s face. “Good idea. I’ll look into it.
When Chris’s phone buzzed with a text, he glanced at the text displayed on the screen before turning his attention back to Megan. “I also wanted to discuss something. How have you been feeling about the feedback we’ve been receiving?”
Megan sighed. “It’s pretty mixed, I guess. Some people are understanding, while for others, it’s hard to take in. And it’s hard because I really want everybody to understand what I’m really getting at.
Chris nodded sympathetically. “That’s the thing. Not everybody is always going to attach themselves to the same thing in a story. What’s most important is you stick to your vision and are honest with yourself.”
Megan leaned forward, a rather earnest look on her face. “Thank you for understanding, Chris. It’s really so much more important to me this way, especially at times like this.”
Chris smiled, warmly. “Of course. The messaging could all hang on that. I consider yours to be a very considerable message. It is one worthy of the effort.”
Megan’s personal phone buzzed with another incoming line, breaking this reflective moment. She gave it a quick look, then back to Chris. “I’ve been thinking about how our own experiences color our perceptions of everyone. That’s something I want to get into in the book.
Chris raised an eyebrow. “That’s an interesting angle. How do you plan to delve into that?”
Megan considered. “I want to explore the idea of how our interactions with people are based on our past experiences and emotional baggage. It’s as though we walk around with these invisible threads that link us to the past.”
Chris nodded thoughtfully in return. “That is a very good idea. One could possibly even examine people’s personal backgrounds and see how these influence their relationships or perceptions.”
Megan smiled. “Yes, exactly. It’s all about understanding how the past shapes the present and how we can navigate that dynamic.”
Glancing at his watch, he brought his eyes back to Megan. “Well, I know we’re a little short on time, but I just wanted to say it’s really kinda been an eye-opener working with you. Your dedication and willingness to go deep into some pretty heavy topics is incredibly refreshing.”
Megan’s eyes softened. “Thank you, Chris. It has been quite a challenge, but also very rewarding. I truly do appreciate your care and support.”.
Chris stood up, giving her an encouraging nod. “Keep pushing forward. The honesty you’re bringing to this project is going to make a difference.”
Rising to her feet with the action to leave, she studied his face and felt reassured, felt compelled to stay true to herself and the value of sharing in vulnerability. It was a powerful moment of connection, with the assured commitment toward the work even more bolstered.
As the day slowly shadowed the studio with long liquid negra shadows, Megan inhaled deeply and returned to her scribbled desk. Her open conversations with Chris had been refreshing, and she felt more inspired and ready to approach the next steps of the project with vigour in her new light.